Graphics designer Asia Gwis took it into her hands and the final effect is just so beautiful. Asia created for the first issue also a new animals that we called Rafa-kids friends : a Bear, a Fox and an Armadillo. We are taking them with us into 2016 - wait for more news!

Rafa-kids studio is a very busy place with frequently changing scenery.

Creating new rooms with our furniture to inspire our customers is Rafa-kids speciality.

Rafa-kids is growing very fast, sometimes we have a feeling that we can not catch up with this high speed train. Of course we look back and would like to remember all the good things, but there are also low points. After 3 years, we are about to set a few very important decisions, which will help us to make our work more efficient and find a better balance in our family life and own business.

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

The days seem to short to me and there is so many things to plan and to do. My “ To Do List” is growing every day instead of getting shorter. Do I do something wrong? On Friday 18th I will take a 2 weeks real break to enjoy my family and friends. ‘Off is a new luxury’ don’t you agree? I need so badly to just be present in my life, to switch off and to recharge my batteries for the new start of the year. Following my obsession with blue at the moment, hereby few inspiring ideas created by Anke Helmich from Studio StyleCookie / photo's by Dana van Leeuwen.

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Thank you so much for your time to take a part in my giveaway and your feed back, I really like it!

The happy winner is number 4. Congratulation Karen!

Could you please send me your address to info@rafa-kids.com so the warm blanket will be on time with you and your kids?

The most interesting message for me was that many of you wish to see more from my creative process and what interests and motivates me. That’s a very nice surprise! I’ve also got privet messages with tips, which gave me a great boost. New year is around the corner and it feels like ‘the wind of change’ .

Monday, 7 December 2015

I’m trying to get back to you regularly on Mondays with inspiration for children’s rooms.

Today, I would like to convince you that the built-in furniture is interesting not only for small spaces. I will even suggest to try to build it in a big room, especially beds or cupboards, to make a cosy corner for a child. What do you think about a little niche, like the one on the first picture? What we need to accept, is the fact, that it will be difficult to change it when the child will grow and there is no chance to move it around when we would like to try something new… A bigger size bed, like 200cm long can by used for many years and also more simple design would be easier to use longer. Of course it's a smart way to use space, but also a great challenge to all off you who like to do things by hand.

Saturday, 5 December 2015

I have a new dream. I would like to move to a new place….and not just ‘a place’ I would mostly like to adopt an old school for a new home for our family. High ceilings, big windows and character of old details, it is something that speaks to me a lot. I’m showing you today an example of amazing adaptation of free standing school in the countryside close to Amsterdam. I’m not surprised that Viviën en Robin fell for this space and put all their energy to create this amazing 300m2 new home for their family. Pictures are made by Jansje Klazinga , styling by Suzanne de Jong.

I do not want to move out of Rotterdam, so I’m looking for an old school in our reach. Happily there are few projects run by city of Rotterdam including adopting old buildings. The old schools which are not in use any more are a great option for creating a new apartment for people who are looking for something unique. We already visited two of the schools and are so exited! …. Of course it’s a long and a challenging way to get it, but we are very determined. Hereby few pictures from one of the schools, we really like.

Tuesday, 1 December 2015

The year 2015 is very close to an end and this make me always very sentimental. I’m blogging since March 2011 and I noticed that the year 2015 was the most quiet one with the smallest number of posts. I think my busy working days are taking me away from here. Since I work with a lot of intuition and spontaneously, I never have a strong planning when I should post or which subject should I select. I like to share what’s inspire me and what Rafa-kids is up to at the moment.

Please leave a comment, telling me what you like at my blog and what do you miss?

Maybe there is something you can’t stand? Would you like to see more behind the scene pictures of Rafa-kids ? A bit more of my own life ? Do you like mostly children’s room inspirations. Do you look for any specific subject? I’m open to hear what you like. Every comment is very important to me and I will take it into account.

Most of the houses the stylist and author of the book Ashlyn Gibson selected and visited with photographer Ben Robertson are not know in the online word. This makes the content of this book very fresh and unique. You can also be sure, that the houses are not changed by the stylist, who is trying to show us specific image or product. They take us like a little spy, to watch the real homes and their families. Dynamic, personal and creative environments which are beautifully captured by photographer Ben Robertson . I had hard time to select pictures to show you.

Each page is just full of ideas and little details, which you would like to watch, and watch again. The author Ashlyn discusses the key elements of successful and inspiring children’s spaces: colour, wall décor, storage, display, dens and hideaways, creative spaces plus homework zones, and cozy bedrooms. We are very touched to also see our Rafa-kids R toddler bed in one of the houses!